A Man Without Guile
- Joseph Furcinitti Jr.
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
Updated: May 24
When you think of the most untrusted professions, what comes to mind? Lawyer? Car Salesman? TV Evangelist? Here are some of the top "most dishonest professions" according to a Google search (not in this order necessarily): ¹
Members of Congress
Car Salesman
Lawyers
Business Executives
Advertising
When Jesus formally met one of his future disciples, Nathaniel, he called him a man without guile (or deceit). ² Jesus would know, for he sees deep into the heart of every man, recognizing motive, means, and end. And he sees into your heart as well! So how do we keep our hearts pure? How do we set our intentions to sincerity and our ambition to selfless gain?
Jesus spoke a revealing truth to us when he said, "Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." ³
Jesus is in essence asking us, "Whose mission are you on? Who is sending you?" The question to ask ourselves in response is, are we on our own mission, sent to accomplish our own will, gaining accolades and followers to build our own ministry, or are we on the Father's mission with one goal: to lay hold of that purpose for which Jesus has grabbed hold of us? ⁴ Basically, who is calling us to task? Self, or the Lord?
The word for guile or deceit that Jesus used when describing Nathaniel held the meaning of baiting or alluring someone by exploiting their greed or emotional need. This form of malintent seeks out a weakness in someone and uses an applicable decoy to deceive and engage that person through their weakness. To varying extents, none of us are above such trickery and none of us are immune to it either. ⁵
We carefully avoid employing such guile by allowing ourselves to be employed by the one without guile, Jesus. We must remember, no matter what purpose or position we have been called to, we are called as servants serving others. And to avoid the intentional misleading of others we are to shed the clothing of naivety and gather discernment to ourselves. Wise as serpents and innocent as doves as Jesus said. ⁶
We do well to aim to be like Timothy, fellow servant of Paul the apostle, the one Paul called a true son. Are we able to serve alongside others, or are we more interested in serving ourselves or our mission?
Several questions may help in discerning your heart and the heart of others in the matter of guile:
Who is being represented here?
What is more important, the ministry or the person?
Who is being focused on, the person and their calling, or Jesus?
Are others being considered above self?
Whose interests are being fought for, self's or Christ's?
Remember, it is the Lord who changes hearts by his Spirit, and only he can purify us of the poising of guile and self-interest.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic!
References
¹ Most Dishonest Professions:
² John 1:47 (KJV) - Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
³ John 7:18
⁴ Philippians 3:12 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
⁵ The Greek word for guile is δόλος (dolos, Strong's # 1388) and is defined as deceit, guile, treachery. This word is derived from an obsolete primary verb, δέλλω (dello), meaning "to decoy." (Strong's Greek: 1388. δόλος (dolos) -- Deceit, guile, treachery)
⁶ Matthew 10:16 - “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
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